I passed my 6 pack exam a few months ago, and learned a great deal not just about  sailing, but about the studying and exam process. For the benefit of others who might like to save themselves a GREAT deal of time and effort by profiting from  my experience, here are some thoughts:

1. At the outset I asked around  as to what study book was the best, and settled on "Get Your Captain's License,"  by Charlie Wing.  I found it very good — perhaps indeed the best.  However, it is NOT without its flaws.  For example, some of the things taught in the text  contain subtle errors. Therefore, if you find that the answers given to some of the sample questions disagree with the text, start by questioning Wing, and compairing his summary with the full Colregs — included in their entirety at  the back of the book.

2. Be aware that the sample questions — especially under "Deck General" — cover a great deal of material not covered in Wing's text.  This is hugely frustrating and discouraging, until you realize that the questions include lots of material Wing omits because it does not occur  in the 6 pack test, but only in tests for more advanced licenses.

3. Take with a grain of salt Wing's statement that some of the Coast Guard's answers are wrong, and you must pick the "wrong" answer in order to get it  marked correct in the test!  In a number of cases I was convinced that I had encountered a "wrong" answer, until I realized that it was right but depended on a very subtle wording in the question.  So read the questions VERY closely, in order not to get tricked!

4. Be aware that in Rules of the Road — by  far the hardest part since they require 90% — you will be tested on Inland-only  and International-only, as well as the more logical Inland and International,  which does NOT cover all of the marterial. Wing doesn't make this clear, and an  oversight on your part will probably spell failure.

Some other suggestions:
a. Take the sample tests in the Wing book again and  again. Then make up tests of the questions you've missed.

b. Don't get carried away with all the reference books Wing cites on p. 8.  You can  succeed without them if you totally master the Wing book — text and questions — and have available Chapman as a back-up reference book to consult when  stumped.

c. Consider one of the cram courses if you aren't a good,  well disciplined studier and memorizer. They probably work well, but they're  expensive and will probably require you to go somewhere away from home for a  week or so.

d. Develop a knack for inventing your own memory tricks  for info that make little inherent sense.  This really saved my  bacon.

e. Don't believe the C.G. when they tell you the tests take two  days. I needed less than one hour each for Parts I, II, & III — but a full half day for the painstaking 10 Nav Problems in Part IV.

f. Take the  whole bunch as soon as you feel you've got at least a fair chance of passing  several of them.  You probably will pass at least one, or two or even three --  and that will leave you able to focus on a narrower range of material when you  study for the retest.   Also, it helps a lot to gain this practical exposure to the test process.

If you have other questions, specific or general,  contact me at jerrypatrk@aol.com. It's a tough but not impossible challenge, so it really makes sense to get yourself organized as well as you possibly  can.

Jerry Patrick